Village chief shot dead in northern Samar

Catarman, Northern Samar, Philippines — A village chief was shot dead on Sunday morning by suspected communist rebels on his way to a barangay (village) session in Pambujan town, Northern Samar.

Ernesto Sosing, barangay captain of Busak, was driving the motorcycle while his wife, Elna, rode on the back when three armed men waylaid him on the narrow Feeder Road about 8:30 a.m.

The rebels told Sosing’s wife to get down from the motorcycle before they shot the victim in the head and parts of his body.

The couple came from their house at the Pambujan town proper and were heading to the barangay hall, about four kilometers away, to attend the session.

Insp. Jolet Guevara, Pambujan chief of police, said he sent a team of policemen and another group from the Police Regional Mobile Group to the site of the shooting.

As they were approaching the crime scene, the policemen heard bursts of gunfire. They realized that they were being attacked by at least 50 armed rebels.

An exchange of gunfire ensued before the rebels escaped.

The authorities later discovered the two land mines believed to have been planted by the New People’s Army (NPA) rebels.

“It was a good thing that our patrol car was not hit and our policemen were able to return fire,” Guevara said.

Sosing was brought to the Pambujan District Hospital but was declared dead on arrival.

Empty shells of a .45-caliber pistol and 9mm pistol were found at the crime scene. The investigators also found shrapnel and detonating device in the area where the land mines exploded.

Mayor Rogelio Tan of Pambujan said he was saddened by Sosing’s death as the barangay chairman was one of his “strongest supporters.”

“This is a very sad day for the people of (Busak). But there is now an ongoing investigation being conducted by the police on the incident,” Tan said.

He pointed out that three of his allies had been killed since he was reelected in 2010./inquirer With a report from Joey A. Gabieta